Is Oymyakon, Siberia the Coldest Place on Earth?

Fortunately, that means warmer weather is on the way if you live in certain parts of the world like the United States.

For those living in these places, however, that’s not the case.

How cold is it there? Well, in portions of this remote region, the ground never thaws – and it hasn’t in ages.

If the temperature outside is cold and you’re dreaming of sunshine, just be thankful you’re not living in the coldest place on earth.

Here’s what life is like in Oymyakon, Siberia and other places where the air hurts your face.

What Is Temperature in the Coldest Place on Earth?

Oymyakon is an extremely remote village tucked away in the Russia’s Siberia region. The entire region is known for its harsh weather but this town gets the short end of the already short stick.

Temperatures in this town average about fifty degrees Fahrenheit below zero in the dead of winter. Yes: -50ºF on average.

But negative 50 is the average winter temperature. How cold is it at its coldest?

Record temps in this town have reached a terrifying -96.16ºF.

What’s Life Like in Oymyakon and Siberia?

Believe it or not, the name Oymyakon actually means “unfrozen water” in Even: one of the Siberian region’s indigenous languages. Although there’s a thermal spring nearby, it’s hard to tell when you’re too focused on your glasses sticking to your face.

That makes this village – or selo in Russian – the coldest continuously inhabited place on earth. Most of the people who live here are Yakutians who have lived in Siberia for generations. Some Russians also live here, too.

Although they’re very short, the summers range between 60ºF and 70ºF. On a hot day, it might hit 90ºF. Not too bad, right?

The warm bursts of weather don’t do much for agriculture. Since the ground never thaws, locals mostly sustain themselves on meat.

Because this town is so remote, the population is very small. The province’s capital, Yaktusk, is a little more populated. This village, however, is extremely isolated: there’s only one shop and gas station that stays open throughout the winter.

Top 10 Coldest Places: How Cold Is It Exactly?

Now that you have an idea of what life is like in the coldest place on earth, let’s take a look at some of the world’s top 10 coldest places.

Pack your fur (or faux fur) coats and lots of ski masks before planning a trip to any of these places. They’re definitely beautiful, but very painful.

Snag, Yukon, Canada

The coldest recorded temp in Snag, Yukon reached -80ºF in 1947. This is a very small village in Canada where only a handful of First Nation indigenous people live. Most of them work at the local airport or as weather observers – how appropriate.

North Ice, Greenland

The lowest recorded temperature in North Ice hit -86ºF in 1954. Unsurprisingly, British Commander James Simpson founded this landmark as a research station. Although it is no longer operational, its sister station was South Ice in Antartica.

Oymyakon, Russia

Yes, this remote village is only number eight on the list. Why is it listed as the coldest place on earth? Because it’s continuously inhabited. You’ll notice most of these other locations are research stations. But then again, someone needs to conduct the research, right?

Klinck Research Station, Greenland

At its coldest point in history, the temp dropped below -92.92ºF. This research station stays open year-round.

Verkhoyansk, Russia

Russia has a lot of cold places – and most of them are in the Siberian region. Verkhoyansk is no different. Just over 1,000 people live in this remote town. Not only is this one of the coldest places, but Verkhoyansk holds the Guinness World Record for the greatest temperature range: up to 189ºF.

Denali Alaska

Yes, Denali is absolutely beautiful, but it’s extremely cold. The lowest recorded number ranks at -100.84ºF. If you want to take a hike here, come prepared: it’s one of the seven most difficult summits in the entire world.

Dome Argus, Antarctic Plateau

-116.5ºF is this location’s record temperature. As an ice dome in Antartica, this isn’t surprising.

Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica

Get ready for lots of frigid temps and not much activity. The Amundsen-Scott South Poll has dropped below -117.4ºF at its coldest point.

Vostok Research Station, Antarctica

The lowest temp here once reached −128.6 °F. Don’t worry, the average summer temp is a sweltering −125.4 °F so pack your swimsuit.

Dome Fuji, Antarctica

Here it is: the coldest place on the planet. This place recently hit its record -135.76°F in 2010.

Would You Live in the Coldest Place on Earth?

Life isn’t easy in these places. Good luck getting your car to start in the morning. Getting a flat tire could be a death sentence.

Although winters are tough in many places, just be glad you don’t live in Siberia.